Roberto Mancini’s decision to defend set pieces with the controversial ‘zonal marking’ tactic has been both lambasted and defended on Twitter, after Manchester City found themselves 3-1 down away at Ajax.

Ajax came from a goal down to lead Manchester City 3-1 in their Champions League encounter (Picture: Getty)

Mancini’s side were a goal up in Holland, but conceded either side of half-time, with their zonal marking strategy being blamed for the second goal.

@garbosj tweeted: ‘Zonal marking by #mcfc exposed by the jump of a Dutch chimney sweep to score from a corner 2-1 #Ajax’.

And @benjameshinks added: ‘Zonal marking will never work, game on City.’

BBC football commentator Guy Mowbray was left baffled by the whole affair after former England defender turned Sky pundit Gary Neville admitted he didn’t like the zonal marking system.

‘Hear so many experts say how they don’t like Zonal marking – @GNev2 the latest – makes me wonder then why on earth so many teams employ it,’ Mowbray tweeted.

But some Twitter users were not in agreement and said Manchester City’s poor defending was to blame for falling behind.

Football editor at the Independent @glennmoore7 posted: ‘Zonal marking not the problem, Lescott + co not attacking the ball is.’

And @cfc_LDCM agreed: ‘When a goal is scored from a corner where the defending side is using man to man marking, why does nobody question it like they do zonal?’

While @PaulCoops_ added: ‘The problem there wasn’t zonal marking it was Lescott not attacking the ball that was in his zone.’